| 973 I speak of this because it is better for you, and you will find it so, in eternity. They need not go out of the city, for I know there is labor enough for them. I could employ three or four myself, in my family, for the more we get the more we want to wait upon the rest. If you cannot get business try to make it for yourselves. I can make business plenty, for myself; I will leave it to the saints if I cannot.
Now, shall we go and reap their wheat and plough [plow] their ground, and dig their potatoes? Shall we let our girls go and wash their clothes, and boil their potatoes, and make their Johnny cake? No. They did not know how to make a short Johnny cake until our girls taught them [He proposed to withdraw fellowship from the Gentiles' eniquity [iniquity], which was done by a unanimous vote.] Now they are disfellowshipt; this is a final decision of all matters before this Conference.
I will make a few remarks relative to the penny subscription, I understand that twelve or thirteen hundred dollars have been subscribed. The sisters have been diligent, and they accomplished a great object.
Again; I would exhort the brethren to pay their tithing, and to pay the best of your substance, and the Lord will sanctify the elements for our good, and prosperity and comfort. Give honor to him to whom honor is due. Be subject to the powers that be; and let every man and woman be subject to counsel, and you will have favor in the sight of God and angels. This I believe, and I know that he hears our prayers; our enemies may organize wolf hunts; but what can they accomplish? for God has a power in this church, and their plans are frustrated; and God knows how it is. Do you know? I know.
When we have asked in faith, I have not known any thing that has not come to pass, these three years. If they would let us be, we are a civil people. I wish the Gentiles would come into the City of Joseph, and go to our Magistrates, they would find there is not a law-suit in this place. I have not had difficulty since I have entered this church, with any man, nor do I intend to have. I would say away with lawsuits, and difficulties, from this time henceforth and forever. Amen.
But they would not be here more than a moth before they would kick up their heels and damn us to the lowest hell; but they will be glad yet to grease a fellow's boots for a little corn, and so will the Gentile nations; but let us take care of ourselves, until we get our endowments, and there is a day coming when we can have a situation to dwell in peace, and they will come in ships, upon the great waters, and bring their silver, and gold, and precious things, to build up our Temples, and waste places; and we will build up Jackson county, and they can not help themselves. But we want these boys to get their endowments first, and lay aside their lightness and prepare themselves for these things.
A thought has just entered into my head, and I will let it out. I will ask the brethren if they think it is wisdom to start grog shops. Shall we have such places in this city? Shall we buy their whiskey? Shall we turn them over to the buffetings of satan? Yes. Shall we fellow ship a man that will do it? I wont. I will bet you a dollar, I can go and buy, and drink, a gallon of their liquor, every day and I will not get drunk, because it is mostly water.
Shall we cultivate a system o f ruin in our midst, and foster whose who are our enemies? Shall we be their subjects for destruction? No. Men, women, brethren, and sisters, if you feel like withdrawing your support from such places, show your hands, (which was unanimous.) They will go now; we will deliver them up to the buffetings of satan.
AN EXTRACT.
From the Messenger relative to the Jews and gathering at Palestine.
It would indeed be surprising if the wide diffusion of knowledge among all classes of the civilized world did not create a wider diffusion of interest for the history and localities of Palestine. All that can delight the eye, and feed the imagination, is lavished over its surface; the lovers of scenery can find there every form and variety of landscape; the snowy heights of Lebanon with its cedars, the valley of Jordan, the mountains of Caramel, Tabor, and Hermon, and the waters of Galilee, are as beautiful as in the days when David sang their praise, and far more interesting by the accumulation of reminiscences. The land unbroken by the toils of the husbandman, yet "enjoys her sabbaths;" but Eschol, Bashan, Sharon, and Gilead are still there, and await but the appointed hour, (so we may gather from every narrative,) to sustain their millions; to flow as of old, with milk and honey; to become once more a "land of brooks of water, and fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates, olive-oil, and honey;" and to resume their ancient and rightful titles, "the garden of the Lord," and "the glory of all lands." What numberless recollections are crowded upon every footstep of the sacred soil! Since the battle of the five kings against four, recorded in
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